Saraswati Puja brightens up festivity

Traditionally, children are introduced to education and learning on the day of Saraswati Puja. This ritual is called “Hatekhori”. Toddlers are usually given a slate and chalk to scribble with. The photo was taken at Jagannath Hall on Dhaka University campus on February 10, 2019. Photo: Prabir Das/ STAR

The enthusiasm, festivity and fervour centring Saraswati Puja could be seen across the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela yesterday, as devotees and a large number of people visiting the nearby Jagannath Hall puja mandaps thronged Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy.

Dressed mostly in traditional attires, people of all ages visited the fair throughout the day. Though there were long queues, it could not dampen the festive atmosphere.

He said people of all religions enjoy the colourful occasion of the puja. The book fair also enriches the celebration manifolds. “Such joyous occasion truly highlights the non-communal spirit of the country and its people,” he added.

Since most educational institutions were closed on the occasion of worshipping Saraswati, the goddess of learning, to mark the coming of spring, presence of young people was also high.

Puja Mohanta, a fourth-year student of Jahangirnagar University, was seen visiting bookstalls with her friends at Suhrawardy Udyan. “It's a great day to hang out with friends after seeking blessings of goddess Saraswati in pursuit of knowledge, art, music and culture.”